The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had it coming, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday, after the agency’s proposed budget was slashed to a measly P1,000 by the House of Representatives.

Sotto said he understands the decision of the House of Representatives, pointing out that the CHR has repeatedly criticized the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, one of the main policies of the government.

Reports quoting CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez will give a thumbs up on the CHR’s budget only if the agency’s chairman, Chito Gascon, will resign from his post.

Sotto said Gascon is free to leave if he does not agree with the policies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Siguro [he should resign], or pwede ring confine yourself to the issues. Stop barking at the President or the policy of the government. Policy ng presidente yun, eh 'di umalis ka,” Sotto said.

Majority of Sotto’s colleagues, however, has said that they will fight for the restoration of the P678-million budget of the CHR.